Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Labour by what approximate date the committee inquiring into the basis for the cost-of-living index figure in this country will issue its Report?
§ Mr. E. BrownIn connection with the inquiries which are to be made by my Department for the purpose of obtaining data as to the present-day distribution of working-class expenditure, required to provide a revised basis for the official cost-of-living index number, I have had the assistance of a Committee to advise as to the methods to be adopted in collecting the required information. The functions of this Committee, however, did not involve an inquiry into, or report upon, the basis of the existing index number. For particulars of the scope and nature of the inquiries which are shortly to be instituted, on lines approved by the Advisory Committee, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a
Number of Coal Mines at work, and the Average Number of Wage-earners employed in South and West Yorkshire. Year. South Yorkshire. West Yorkshire. Number of Coal Mines at work during the year. Average Number of Wage-earners employed. Number of Coal mines at work during the year. Average Number of Wage-earners employed. 1926 … … 129 118,028 159 63,836 1927 … … 131 121,905 159 63,017 1928 … … 117 117,154 135 55,345 1929 … … 114 116,943 123 52,303 1930 … … 109 117,012 117 51,099 1931 … … 109 110,931 108 49,845 1932 … … 112 103,804 98 48,127 1933 … … 106 97,498 101 43,618 1934 … … 108 96,768 101 43,100 1935 … … 110 94,792 100 42,169 1936 … … 107 95,295 98 41,712 *At 17th July, 1937. 88 98,000 80 42,100 *These figures are not comparable with those shown for the years 1926–36. The figures for the years include all mines working at any time during the year and the wage-earners employed are averages based on four dates (two dates in 1926).
2882Wquestion by the hon. Member for the Rother Valley (Mr. Dunn) on 22nd July.